Manifolding and sheet aligning apparatus



w. R. HOWE MANIFOLDING AND SHEET ALIGNINGAPPARATU;

Filed Sept 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 56-! L D H 0 WE ATTORNEYS.

WILLIAM R Oct. 29, 1940. w R. HOWE v MANIFOLDING AND SHEET ALIGNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1939 '3 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVEIW'OR. WILLIAM REGINALD HOWE -w ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 29, 1940. w, R. Hows MANIFOLDING' AND SHEET ALIGNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 MANIFOLDING AND SHEET ALIGNIN G APPARATUS William Reginald Howe, Indianapolis, 'Ind., as-

signor toThe Egry Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 29, 1939, SerialNo. 297,144 23 Claims. ((11. 28221) "This invention relatesto improvements in manifoldi-ng 1 devices, .and more particularly autographic registers. v. It is anobject of this invention to devise an improved roller andpaper webaligning means for usein autographic register devices so that the superimposed sheetsare aligned by means inserted in the vfile punch holes of the superimposed sheetsasthe manifoldsh-eets are moved to a new writing position.

It is a particular object of this invention to providea .novel form of aligning pin which cooperates with the web feed roller to permit the free movement of the sheets thereunder while the aligning pins arepressed thereagainst.

Another objectvis to devise an improvedaligning'pin which: is adapted to coact with the file holes in the paper sheet so as to maintain proper contact therewith during movement of the web without marring or inducing buckling of theweb during use of the device.

Another object is to provide an improved form of aligning pins which are equipped with individual rollers or casters and shaped to engage into the file punch holes of-the paper web, which .is to be written upon, as it is advanced forward toa new writing position.

Another object is to provide an improved roller and cooperating aligning pin means formanifold- .ing devices wherein the paper sheet is: aligned by ,the pins which are integrally attached on indi- -.vidual sleeves and areadapted to be frictiondriven by the associated paper web feeding roller .mechanism.

Anotherobject is to provide an improved paper sheet ejecting and aligning roller mechanism whereby diiferent forms of manifold sheets can be readily accommodated.

Still another object of this inventionis to provide a combined ejecting roller and coacting spring pressed sleeve member upon which is mounted the paper aligning means and cam means for spreading the paper ejecting rollers of the autographic register.

Another object is to provide an improved roller mechanism wherein fine spring adjustments are unnecessary, as changes from two to several more copies can be made without adjusting the springs.

Another object is to provide an improvedroller mechanism whereby the tendency of the paper to wear the pin points is overcome by the rollers.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

.Figure 1 .is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through an autographic register device, the rear portion being partly broken away, and embodying my improved ,roller and aligning mechanism;

liligure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2P2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentarydetail sectional view of an .autographic register similar to Figure 1 showing the position of the roller and associated aligning pins when the paper web is being ejected out of the machine; Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the register with the cover broken away showing the roller and paper web aligning pin mechanism in position corresponding to that shown in Figure 3;

Figures 5, '6 and 7 are detail perspective views showing diiferent relative positions of the aligning pinsand paper web illustrating the coaction {ofthe aligning pins with the paper web file holes vduring movement of the paper web through the device.

General construction In Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated an autographic register device which embodies the irnprovedroller and web aligning pin mechanism of this invention which comprises a casing 8 mounted on a base 9. Rearward hinged cover iii forms an armvsupport and writing opening adjacent which superimposed paper web forms .55, which are to be written upon, are moved. Suitably positioned beneath the cover is va writing .table l2 for supporting the paper web i l.

The manifold web sheet H, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, comprises a plurality of superimposed paper sheets having printed forms thereon and having spaced file holes l3 which are adapted to cooperate with the aligning pin means on the web feed roller mechanism to properly align the sheets, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Preferably themanifold paper comprises a continuous web of superimposed sheets fan-folded in .a pack which is placed in a compartment provided for this purpose at the rearof the register.

,In ,use the manifold paper web is fed forward over the writing table and after writing upon is advanced so as to separate the original paper sheet Ila and the copy sheet forms lib; the former being ejected and the latter retained in the *forward compartment E4 of the device as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

A cover or lid I6 is pivoted at the forward end of the register on the transverse rod I1 and is front portion 2| which is arranged toform a material llb. Within the storage compartment M are positioned the adjustable upstanding wall members 22 which are fastened in place by suitable set screws 23. Additional set screw holes 24 are provided for changing the relative position of the members 22 so as to vary the space defined by the walls. Depending from the underside of the lid H3 is a swingable copy sheet guide finger 25.

Measuring and aligning mechanism The mechanism for drawing the writing paper web through the device a predetermined measured distance at intervals to expose a new writing form for recording different transactions comprises a master gear 38 which is arranged to drive the pinion 32 on a shaft 33. Also fixed to rotate with the gear pinion 32 is a gear 34 of larger diameter which meshes with the gear 36 of the lower roller sleeve member 31 keyed to the roller shaft 38. Gear 36 in turn drives the gear 33 mounted on the upper coacting web feeding roller shaft 48. The lower roller shaft 38 is suitably journaled at each end in the side walls of the device as shown in Figure 2.

A spacing roller member 4| is loosely mounted upon the upper roller shaft 48 which is loosely journaled in the openings 42 in the side walls of the register. Roller shaft 38 is provided with an enlarged knurled sleeve 43 for engaging the underside of the manifold paper sheet. The knurled sleeve member 43 is keyed to turn with the shaft 38 by means of the pin 43a. Spacing sleeve members 44 and 45 are positioned opposite 5 the end of the knurled sleeve member 43 and are fixed to rotate with the shaft 38 by means of the pins 44a and 45a respectively. The spacing sleeve members are suitably shaped to function as lateral guide supports for the manifold paper web as it passes between the rollers.

The upper roller shaft 40 is provided with a knurled sleeve member 58 which is keyed tothe shaft 48 by means of the pin 58a. and co-operates with the lower knurled sleeve 43 for drawing the paper web therealong. Spaced at opposite sides of the knurled sleeve 50 are the paper aligning guide sleeve members generally designated 5|, which are yieldably urged outward from the knurled roller member 58 by means of the springs 52. The outer ends of the sleeve members 5| terminate in a boss 53 which is adapted to telescopically engage over the inner end of the cylindrical sleeve ring members 54 and 55 respectively. Sleeve 54 is free to rotate on the shaft 48 and frictionally engages the side walls of the gear 33. Similarly sleeve 55 rotates on the shaft 40 and frictionally contacts the side wall of the spacer member 56 positioned on the opposite end of the roller shaft 48.

Integral with the boss portions 53 of the web aligning sleeve members 5| are depending segmental sector cam surface means 58 which are adapted to be rotated in engagement with the cutaway sleeve portions 59 of the spacer guide '75 members 45 mounted on the lower roller shaft guide and support for the used manifold sheet 38. On the inner boss section 60 of the sleeve members 5| are fixedly attached the web aligning pins generally designated 65. The pins, as 11- lustrated in Figures 2 and '7, comprise tapered conical extensions 66 having a bifurcated outer end forming an axial support for the wheel or roller member 61 equipped to rotate on the axial means 68 journaled near the end of the bifurcated member 56. The pin extension 66 and attached roll 51 are of a size such that they will readily enter the spaced file holes l3 in the manifold web papers H as the superimposed sheets are moved along between the gripper rolls 43 and 50 during use of the register.

The tension in the spring members 52 is such as to provide a friction drive for the sleeve members 5| through the sleeve and associated contacting parts engaging the shaft 40. The force of the springs, however, is not sogreat as to tear the web or apply unnecessary pressure on the pins forcing them to gouge into the paper web sheet passing between the rolls. It will be understood that the aligning pins 65 will be spaced apart a proper distance corresponding to the space between the punch holes l3 on' the manifold paper sheets used in the register device.

Upon rotation of the master gear 30 the pin 18, fixed to the side walls of the gear 30, is brought in contact with the lever 12 along the outer cam surface 72a, as illustrated in Figure 1. The lever 12 is pivoted on the transverse shaft 13 journaled in the side walls of the register and the forward end of the lever is curved around the lower roller sleeve member 45 and the uppermost end portion 15 is arranged to act as a stop means for arresting the rotation of the depending cam sector 58 on the aligning sleeve members 5| while aligning of the sheets is in progress. Yieldable means, not shown, are suitably positioned to maintain the lever 12 yieldably in position so that its cam surface 12a will be contacted by the pin 10 during its course of movement. This permits rotation of the cam sector 58 out from between the gripper roll members to cause them to grip the web immediately after the aligning of webs by pins 65 has been effected. A similar lever is positioned on the opposite side of the register device for arresting the movement of the adjacent depending cam sector.

lowermost position while they are engaged in the punch holes of the web during the aligning of the superimposed webs.

Additional manual means is also provided for moving the knurled rolls 50 and 43 apart. mechanism comprises a cam shaft which extends through the lifting plates 8| on either side of the register, which in turn are yieldingly held by the springs 82 in their lowermost position to cause the upper roller to remain in its lower clamping position in the normal movement of the webs. The bracket 83 on the side walls of the register serves as a support for the lifting plates.

A stud 84 is carried in the lower ends of the lift- I ing plates 8| and also abuts through the spring 82 and the stationary bars 85 on the side walls of the register. The cam shaft 80 which passes through these lifting plates is provided with a cam surface 88a and is adapted to be independently actuated by the stud by rotation of the button 86 attached to the end of the shaft 88 on the outside of the register when it is desired to spread In this manner both aligning pins are momentarily held at their '5 the knurled rollers 43 and 58 for threading the manifold paper in the machine before startin its operation. The backward movement of the master gear 30 is prevented by the pawl 88.

v The hood section I8 of the cover I ll has arranged on either side of the front of the hood depending eye members 90 for receiving the looking hooks 9| which are connected to the shaft 92 which is pivoted in the side walls of the register. The shaft 92 is provided with an operating button 94 which is positioned on the outside of the register for unlocking the hooks 9|. .The hooks are maintained yieldably in looking positionby the spring 95 connected to the side wall of the register at 96 and to an arm 91 which in turn is fastened to the shaft 92. ,The arm 9! rests upon the shaft 80 as a stop. Rearward movement of the locking hooks 9| is prevented by the positioning of the bell crank 99 which is pivoted on the register at I00. The bell crank has one arm adapted to engage the back of the hook member 9| and has the other arm engage able by the lock when the same is in locked position.

Method of operation When the crank or handle used for actuating the device is actuated while the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, the Web ejecting rollers 43 and 50 advance the web forward through the register and the sleeve members are rotated carrying the aligning pin members 55 around in engagement with the web. The sleeves 5| then remain stationary and in sliding contact with the shaft 40 upon further rotation of the web advancing rollers 43 and 5D. Pins 65 rest lightly upon the surface of the web until the file holes |3 in the web are moved under the aligning pins, whereupon the pins drop down into the file holes and are carried around upon further rotation of the sleeves 5| in position between the rolls. At the same time the depending cam surfaces 58 on the sleeve aligning pin members 5| are rotated in contact with the lower sleeve member 59 raising the gripper'shaft roll 40, releasing the grip of the knurled rollers 43 and 59 on the web. The relative position of the pin 55 and cam 58 on the sleeve members 5| is such that the cam 58 is advanced between the rollers 43 and 50 slightly ahead of the pins. Thereafter, upon further rotation the aligning pin members 65 shift the superimposed Webs in alignment as the tapered pins advance to their lowermost position in the file holes of the superimposed sheets.

While in the aligned position the writing'form of the manifold sheets is in position on the writing table so that notations may be madethereon. Thereafter, upon actuation of the handle forrotating the master gear 30, the pin contacts the lever 12 releasing the cam sectors 58 to permit the aligning pins 65 to rotate around with the shaft 40 so as to be disengaged from the file holes and at the same time permit the movement of the gripper rolls 43 and 50 to a clamping position on the web. This is brought about by movement of the cam sectors 58 out from between the rolls, whereupon the paper web sheets are again clamped and the web may be moved into a new writing position. It will be noted that the cam and aligning pins are not mechanically connected to the shaft 40 being merely frictionally dragged around upon rotation of the upper roller shaft 49 due to the force of the springs 52 which yieldably maintain the sleeves 5| in engagement with the roller shaft'members.

It will be understood that various sizes .of

aligning sleeve members 5| may be employed for accommodating the different lengths and types of manifold web sheets having different sized file holes, forms or similar pin engaging means.

It will be further understood that this inventionlis not limited to the exact details of construction shown and that such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses are contemplated to be within the scope of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a manifold register having a plurality of superimposed manifold sheets with spaced perforations and cooperating sheet ejecting means, the improvement comprising aligning pin means having rollers mounted on the outer ends for engaging into the perforations in said sheets carried by one of said ejecting means, and means for driving the ejecting means independently of said aligning pin means.

2. In a manifold register device having a plurality of superimposed manifold sheets with spaced perforations therein and cooperating means for advancing said sheets through said de vice, the improvement comprising tapered conical aligning pin means having outer independently movable portions adapted to be inserted in said perforations to align said superimposed sheets, said pin means being carried by one of said sheet advancing means, and means for driving the sheet advancing means independently of said aligning pin means.

3. In a manifold register device having a. plurality of superimposed manifold web sheets with spaced perforations therein and means to eject said sheets, means to render the ejecting means inoperative, means to align the superimposed sheets comprising spaced protuberances having casters mounted thereon, said sheet aligning means being shaped to: engage into apertures in said sheets, and means for driving the ejecting means while said aligning means are stationary. I

4..In an autographic register having a plurality of superimposed manifold paper webs with spaced perforations therealong, the improvement comprising a roller for ejecting the paper webs,

said roller having sleeve means mounted thereon carrying aligning pins which are adapted to be projected through the apertures in said sheets during aligning thereof, said aligning pin means comprising an outermost paper webengaging portion which is movable with respect to the body portion of said pin.

5. In an autographic register having a plu- -rality of superimposed manifold paper webs with "spaced perforations therealong, the improvement comprising a roller for ejecting the paper webs,

. said roller having sleeve means mounted thereon pin means mounted on a roller shaft and yieldably engaging therewith, said aligning pins com prising independently movable pin point members, said pins being adapted to be yieldably held against the surface of the superimposed sheets and be inserted in said perforations to align said superimposed sheets as the same are moved to a new writing position.

7. In an autographic register having a plurality of superimposed manifold web sheets with spaced perforations, ejecting means comprising superimposed rollers having knurled paper gripping surfaces, arcuate shaped aligning pin means mounted on a sleeve which cooperates with the ejecting means to permit the free movement of said superimposed paper sheets while the aligning pins are pressed thereagainst, said pins comprising a body portion which is adapted for insertion into said perforations for bringing about alignment of the superimposed sheets and having an independently movable pin point section on said body portion.

8. In an autographic register having a plurality of superimposed manifold paper sheets with spaced perforations, the improvement comprising a combined paper sheet ejecting roller and aligning means, said aligning means comprising a protuberance having a tapered body portion for fitting into said perforations to align the superimposed sheets, said protuberances having individual rollers mounted on the outermost part to provide rolling contact with said paper web sheet as it is advanced forward to a new writing position.

9. In an autographic register having a plurality of superimposed manifold paper sheets with spaced perforations therein, an improved paper Web ejecting roller means and cooperating web aligning means, said aligning means comprising pins which are integrally attached on individual sleeves, said sleeves being friction driven by said paper webroller ejecting means, said pins comprising tapered wall portions which are adapted to engage the side walls of the perforations to move the superimposed sheets longitudinally to align them and said pins having means thereon for providing a rolling contact with said manifold paper as the same is moved along from one set of perforations to the next.

10. In an autographic register, ejecting means for a plurality of superimposed sheets of paper having aligned holes therein, the improvement comprising ejecting roller means having a pair of sleeve members operatively connected to the roller, said sleeve members having pins thereon adapted to engage in the holes of said sheets and align them as said sheets are advanced through said register, said pin means being of the same shape in cross-section as said holes and comprising independently rotatable means pivoted on the outermost end portion of said pin means, said sleeve members being rotated by variable friction means associated with said ejecting roller means.

11. In an autographic register having a plurality of superimposed sheets with spaced perforations, cooperating roller means for engaging said superimposed sheets and ejecting the same, aligning pin means comprising a substantially frictionless paper contacting head portion and a body section having side walls engageable with the walls of said perforations, said aligning pin means being mounted on sleeves and carried loosely on the shaft of said roller means, means to drive the ejecting rollers and means to render the same inoperative at predetermined intervals while said pin aligning means are entering and aligning said sheets, said frictionless paper contacting head portion consisting of independently movable means pivoted on the outermost end portion of said pin means.

12. In an autographic register having a plurality of superimposed sheets with spaced perm-- rations, superimposed rollers adapted to grip said sheets and eject the same upon rotation of said rollers, the improvement comprising aligning pin means carried by one of said rollers, said aligning pins comprising arcuate shaped protuberances having castors mounted on the ends thereof, means for spreading said rollers at intervals, means for moving the aligning pins into the'path of the apertures in said sheets as said sheets are advanced through said register, and means to permit the independent movement of said pins relative to said ejecting roller means.

13. In an autographic register, the improvement including a manifold sheet aligning member, said member comprising a cylindrical body adapted to be mounted as a sleeve on a shaft, said cylindrical body having a pin fixed therein, said pin comprising arcuate shaped side walls and having an independently movable outer end portion for reducing the friction between said pin and the manifold sheet being aligned.

14. In an autographic register, the combination with a paper sheet ejecting roller means of a sheet aligning member, said member comprising a hollow body having a pin roller carried thereby which is adapted to engage in spaced file holes of paper sheet for aligning the same, said body having an integral depending cam sector adapted to coact with said ejecting roller means on said autographio register to render the same inoperative at intervals during the use of said register.

15. In an autographic register, having a plurality of superimposed spaced sheets with perforations, separating means, a lower roller shaft, an upper roller shaft cooperating therewith for ejecting said sheets, a sleeve means comprising a cam and a sheet aligning pin roller means mounted on said upper roller, yieldable means on said upper roller for providing frictional engagement of said sleeve with said upper roller shaft means, and means to independently drive the lower roller shaft means.

16. An autographic register having, in combination, meansfor feeding a plurality of superimposed strips of paper with transverse creases dividing the strips into sections and holes at one end of each section, means for drawing the superimposed paper strips as a unit to a writing position, strip aligning pin'roller means operatively connected with said feeding means adapted to engage in said holes as said strips are moved along, and means for rendering inoperative said feeding means while said pin roller means is en-' gaged in the holes of said sheets to align said strips.

17, An autographic register having, in combination, friction rollers mounted on cooperating shafts for feeding a plurality of superimposed continuous sheets of paper having spaced writing sections provided therealong, said sections having holes at one end of each section, means for aligning said superimposed sheets comprising an independent sleeve member mounted on the uppermost feeding roller shaft and yieldingly spaced from said roller portion having sheet aligning pin roller means for engaging in said holes, said sleeve means comprising means for rendering said feeding rollers inoperative during the aligning of said superimposed sheets.

18. In combination with a pair of coacting gripper rollers for feeding a plurality of superimposed strips of paper having writing sections 'spaced therealong of a plurality of rotatablesleeve members operatively connected by spaced spring means to one of said rollers having means mounted thereon for rendering said gripper roller inoperative at intervals and independent means comprising spaced pin rollers mounted on said sleeve for aligning said strips while said gripper rollers are rendered inoperative.

19. In combination with means comprising coacting rollers for feeding superimposed strips of material having spaced sections for writing arranged thereon, of rotatable sleeve means frictionally actuated by one of said rollers carrying means for rendering said feeding rollers inactive and having independent means mounted on said sleeve for engaging said superimposed strips and aligning the same While said feeding rollers are rendered inactive, said strip aligning means comprising a tapered pin having an outer independently movable portion contacting said strip.

20. In an autographic register for use with a plurality of superimposed strips of paper having spaced writing sections thereon and holes at one end of each section, of coacting rollers for feeding said superimposed strips, means comprising a sleeve member axially mounted on one of said rollers and operatively connected thereto, said sleeve having means for rendering said feeding rollers inoperative and independent means on said sleeve for aligning said superimposed strips while said strips are moved along, said strip aligning means comprising a pin having a roller mounted thereon engageable with said strip.

21. In manifold sheet aligning mechanism, an aligning pin comprising an arcuate body portion as the means for aligning and having a roller mounted thereon, said roller being arranged to project from the end of said pin.

22. In manifold sheet aligning mechanism, an aligning pin comprising a body portion with side wall aligning means and having a roller mounted thereon, said roller being journaled in the outermost-end portion of said aligning pin.

23. In a feeding and aligning mechanism for autographic registers, feeding rollers, means for separating said rollers, aligning means comprising a pin with a roller on the end thereof adapted to engage paper sheets by rolling thereon and with holes in said sheets by insertion of said pin means therethrough.

WILLIAM REGINALD HOWE. 

